[Clinicopathologic study of 8 cases of poorly differentiated cutaneous angiosarcoma of scalp].
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and pathologic characteristics of poorly differentiated cutaneous angiosarcoma of scalp.


METHODS
Eight cases of poorly differentiated cutaneous angiosarcoma of scalp were enrolled into this study. The clinical manifestations and histopathologic features were analyzed. Immunohistochemical study for CD31, CD34, factor VIII-related antigen, vimentin, AE1/AE3, CAM5. 2, epithelial membrane antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen was performed.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 69 years. The male-to-female ratio was 5 : 3. The tumor manifested clinically as bruise-like lesion in early phase, indurated erythematous plaque accompanied by nodules, ulcerations and bleeding in advanced phase. Histologically, the tumor was composed of solid sheets of undifferentiated spindle cells which were not easily recognizable as vascular in origin. Nuclear atypia was always present. The tumor cells in all of the 8 cases strongly expressed CD31, factor VIII-related antigen and vimentin. Weak expression of CD34, AE1/AE3 and CAMS. 2 was noted in 2, 4 and 4 cases, respectively. The staining for epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen and S-100 was negative. Conclusions Angiosarcoma needs to be excluded by histologic examination whenever bruise-like and erythematous lesions occurring on scalp skin of elderly patients. The endothelial origin of the tumor cells can be confirmed with immunostaining for CD31, CD34 and factor VIII-related antigen.
Chen
Si-Yuan
SY
Department of Dermatology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
Huang
Chang-Zheng
CZ
Qian
Yue
Y
Wu
Yan
Y
Tu
Ya-Ting
YT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D012535:Scalp / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis*
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014746:Vimentin